Mahoosucs Region

Straddling the Maine-New Hampshire Border, the Mahoosuc Region stretches from the White Mountain National Forest and Nash Stream State Forest in eastern New Hampshire to the lakes and high peaks of Maine’s Western Mountains and is one of the Northern Forest’s most ecologically and recreationally significant areas.

Recreationally, it is perhaps best known for the section of the Appalachian Trail (AT) that threads through its core and includes the “Mahoosuc Mile” through Maine’s Mahoosuc Notch—considered the most difficult single mile of the entire trail.  Connector trails to the AT and trails like the Grafton Loop Trail are also enjoyed by many.  The Androscoggin River, with everything from flatwater to whitewater opportunities, bounds the region to the West, the South, and partially to the East. 

For an area with such significant recreational, ecological, and economic values, there is little protection in the form of private lands with conservation easements or public ownership.  Recent land sales have destabilized ownership patterns in the region and led to a variety of concerns.

Mahoosucs Coalition Partnerships
The AMC has joined with a diverse group of local, regional, and national organizations to launch the Mahoosuc Conservation Initiative to address the threats to the Mahoosuc Region.

The Initiative is led by four local organizations:
Androscoggin River Watershed Council
Mahoosuc Land Trust
Northern White Mountain Chamber of Commerce
Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce

Important support and capacity are provided by the Appalachian Mountain Club and our partners:
Northern Forest Alliance
Appalachian Trail Conservancy
The Wilderness Society

Mahoosucs Conservation Initiative
Through this initiative, the partners are redefining how conservation happens in the Northern Forest.  The Initiative is focused on providing new opportunitites for community members and others who care deeply about the region to identify priorities in advance.  By doing this, we hope to set the stage for collaborative and cooperative thinking that leads to new outcomes on the ground so that we have support from all members of the communities around this beautiful region. 

Techniques being utilized include individual interviews, “kitchen table interviews,” where we go to small groups and ask what their priorities in the region are, participatory mapping, and more traditional research, scientific study, and economic analysis. This strong local leadership will ultimately drive the Mahoosuc effort from development and project prioritization all the way through to implementation of land conservation and other identified priorities. 

All throughout the process, we’ll be seeking new information from people who value the region.  To set up an interview or provide your thoughts on particular values in the region, feel free to email Bryan Wentzell.